Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gangrenous appendicitis found inside a long-term umbilical hernia
By Bobosharipov FG & Nadirova YI.·2026·Department of Surgical Diseases in Family Medicine·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Gangrenous appendicitis within a long-standing umbilical hernia: a case report.
Plain-English summary
This case report describes a 63-year-old woman who had a long-standing umbilical hernia for 29 years. She came to the hospital with severe pain and redness around her belly button, along with a lump that couldn't be pushed back in. During emergency surgery, doctors found that both her omentum (a fold of tissue in the abdomen) and her appendix were severely damaged and needed to be removed. After the surgery, she recovered well without any complications. This case shows that even though it's rare, appendicitis can happen in patients with umbilical hernias, and quick surgery can lead to a good recovery.
Abstract
Appendicitis occurring within an umbilical or paraumbilical hernia is an extremely rare clinical entity and poses a significant diagnostic challenge. Because umbilical hernia sacs usually contain omentum or bowel, the presence of the appendix may obscure classical features of appendicitis and mimic a strangulated hernia. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with a 29-year history of umbilical hernia who presented with acute pain, erythema, and an irreducible umbilical mass. She underwent emergency surgical exploration, which revealed gangrenous omentum and a gangrenous appendix measuring 10 × 2 cm within the hernia sac. Appendectomy, omentectomy, and primary layered hernia repair were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. This case highlights that appendicitis within an umbilical hernia, although rare, should be considered in patients presenting with an acutely painful irreducible umbilical hernia, as prompt surgical intervention leads to excellent outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41858483